American Academy of Physician Assistants Applauds U.S. House of Representatives for Passing Health Care Reform Bill

American Academy of Physician Assistants Applauds U.S. House of
Representatives for Passing Health Care Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of
Physician Assistants (AAPA), representing more than 75,000 clinically
practicing physician assistants (PAs) practicing in the United States,
applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing Saturday its health
care reform bill, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

"We are especially delighted that this reform bill will ultimately lower the
cost of health care and greatly expand coverage to millions of Americans who
are currently uninsured," said AAPA President Stephen Hanson. "We also are
pleased that the bill specifies PAs as primary health care providers and
accentuates the fact that PAs may lead the primary care team in the new
chronic care management model."

The bill fully integrates PAs into new medical home and chronic care
management models of care, including the following requirement for
certification of community-based medical homes -- "the organization provides
medical home services under the supervision of and in close collaboration with
the primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant
designated by the beneficiary as his or her community-based medical home
provider."

AAPA is committed to working with the 111th Congress to enact health care
reform legislation that meets the needs of the American people and encompasses
the Academy's health care reform principles, including: access to quality,
affordable, cost-effective health care for all Americans; the use of
evidence-based medicine; physician-directed teams of health care providers;
optimal utilization of primary care; emphasis on health promotion and disease
prevention; medical liability reform that treats both patients and providers
equitably and encourages health care professionals to apologize for an adverse
outcome without increasing risk; and sustainable financing and payment
mechanisms that take into account comparative-effectiveness information.

"The Affordable Health Care for America Act aligns with many of AAPA's health
care reform principles. We are truly pleased that the House passed this bill
Saturday," Hanson said.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is the only national
professional association that represents PAs across all medical and surgical
specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the armed forces
and federal services. Founded in 1968, AAPA works to increase the professional
and personal growth of the entire PA workforce by providing comprehensive
support and advocacy for physician assistants so that they may, in turn,
provide patients with increased access to quality, cost-effective health care.
Learn more about PAs at www.aapa.org.

SOURCE American Academy of Physician Assistants

Brooke Braun of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, +1-703-836-2272
ext. 3502, bbraun@aapa.org